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Market and Coastal Towns Initiative
Ivybridge Area Partnership

in conjunction with

IVYBRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL

IVYBRIDGE REGENERATION MEETING

Notes from the meeting held at 5.30pm on Tuesday 20 February 2007.

1. APOLOGIES

Gary Emery, Jen Laity and Chris Passmore.

2. AREA AROUND THE LEISURE CENTRE, RIVERSIDE PERFORMANCE SPACE & SIGNAGE

Alex Whish, Landscape Officer for SHDC, outlined plans for the above. He explained that work in the area had unfortunately been running behind schedule and that the replacement of very poorly constructed steps (installed initially by DCC) had not helped.

Alex displayed a range of plans for planting schemes in the area; he explained that as container grown plants were to be used then watering should not be an issue with carrying out planting in the spring. He added that the tender for landscaping was to be sent out during the week and should be turned around in a couple of weeks ready for the work to take place in March. Paula Bleasdale raised the issue of planting potentially dangerous plants in the vicinity of the children’s play park – particularly Cotoneaster – Alex undertook to investigate this issue.

He confirmed that all the lighting had been installed and that this was on a separate circuit and not connected to the Leisure Centre circuit. Lesley enquired as to how power would be delivered to the outside of Leisure Centre to light the performance space – Alex advised that he understands that a point was still to be installed which could be connected.

With regard to signage, Alex advised that SHDC wished to rationalise and to develop a distinctive style for Ivybridge. Alex explained that the District would like to use directional signs made from railway sleepers and to remove the metal posts. Alex added that Keith Rennells wanted to see some kind of substantial information/map board erected near to the bus stop by the Somerfield’s bridge to assist with visitor orientation by picking out key services, identifying the high street etc.

Alex suggested it might also be a good idea to make use of the spare tarmac/ pavers
site adjacent to the disabled parking spaces – perhaps by installing an “information gazebo” which could be used to display Town Council, TIC and 2 Moors Way information etc and possibly even some advertisements for local traders. The Group liked the distinctive look of the gazebo design but were a little concerned that youngsters might use it for an informal youth shelter at night.

The Group asked whether SHDC would like to mark the official opening of this whole area, and in particular the performance space, with perhaps the hire of a local jazz band to perform to coincide with a Farmers’ Market; Alex was optimistic that some support/sponsorship could be made available.

The Group resolved to support the provision of a sign board by the Somerfield bridge to a maximum sum of £4k from the Tesco 106 funds.

Alex Whish left the meeting at 6.10pm .

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The Minutes were agreed as an accurate record.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Steve Hitch queried whether the Ivybridge Tile & Slate Centre was to go ahead with its new premises. Lesley advised that she had written to the proprietor regarding “Party Wall” issues and understood that the development would go ahead in March.

5. TESCO 106 EXPENDITURE

a. Library/Resource Centre

Lesley Hughes advised that the tender documents had gone out with return due by 7 March; a special Council meeting would be held on 14 March to confirm the contractor, with the appointed contractor to start on site on 10 April. Lesley explained that numerous meetings had taken place concerning issues for the new building such as telephones and IT; it was noted that the Library was to be Wi-Fi and it was suggested this would be a sensible route for the whole building. Lesley added that she would be meeting soon with Enterprise Plymouth Limited to look at the business and incubator units in their Cattedown facility, this would be followed by a meeting with the RDA also concerning the business element of the project. The week after meetings were to take place with Devon Renaissance and Devon County Council to look at the conditions attached to the funding and to confirm how they were to be met.

A marketing visit had been undertaken to the Flavel Centre in February by Keith Laity, Pauline Cleal and Dawn Trower.

Ann Laity had formed a fundraising group for theatre equipment – “Friends of Our Performance Space” (FOPS) and she outlined a number of fundraising events and activities the group had lined up.

b. Market Stalls

Lesley confirmed she was to get costings off to Mike Cozens as soon as possible so that stalls could be in place for the 14 April Spring Eggstravaganza event; planning permission on the storage unit would also be applied for at the same time. It was noted that Darren Griffiths from Phoenix Beard was anticipating receiving a ground rent for any weekly market held in the precinct – it was felt that anything other than a nominal fee would not be feasible.

c. Tesco Sign

Lesley explained that the saga of the sign was ongoing. Tesco’s designers, Blaze, had advised that the original photo supplied was not of good enough standard when it was enlarged to fit the sign board. They had however supplied a moiré version of the original photograph to ascertain if this would be acceptable to the Group. Lesley had subsequently arranged for a better version of the original photograph to be taken by David Rayner of the Camera Club and comments were currently awaited from Blaze as to its suitability. The Group, however, liked the moiré version and were happy if this format were to be adopted.

6. TOURISM GROUP

Lesley reported that she had not received an update from the Tourism Group.

Hotel

Steve Hitch commented that he felt the Regeneration Group now needed a new focus – perhaps the hotel and sports facilities?

Lesley asked whether the Group would be prepared to write to SHDC to highlight the desire to use the site alongside the A38 for a hotel rather than business units which could be located anywhere (not the case with the hotel – an A38 location was vital). It was agreed that Steve would write to Ruth Bagley. From his own perspective, Steve commented that the Tennis Centre had recently been forced to turn away a large tennis tournament due to lack of visitor accommodation in the area. Paula Bleasdale noted that generally the town was trying to attract more visitors and tourists (for example by means of the annual Walking & Outdoor Festival) and that these people would need somewhere to stay.

7. SPORT IVYBRIDGE

Steve Hitch informed the Group that he was now a Trustee with Tone Leisure and that, in addition, “Sport South Hams” was trying to reconfigure itself and to establish smaller sub-groups for each town (like the previously active “Sport Ivybridge” group). Paula Bleasdale advised that she was undertaking some work on what activities were available for younger children in the area – Steve promised to feedback any relevant information he was able to access.

8. FUTURE OF GROUP

Richard Peachey believed that it was important for the Group to continue even if only on a lobbying basis since it did provide a forum whereby the community could speak with Town, District and County Councils at the same time. Steve Hitch queried whether the Group was duplicating the work of the Chamber – it was noted, however, that the Chamber was currently struggling for membership and momentum.

Richard questioned whether the Group was still part of the MCTi process. Lesley advised that it was – indeed she had recently attended a MCTi conference at Torquay on behalf of the town. She believed it important to continue to maintain contact with the process so that any initiatives of particular interest and funding sources could be taken advantage of by the town. She added that she made contact with Mark Goodman from the MCTA from time to time. Lesley concluded that it still remained very unclear just how local government would look in the future but there would appear to be an increasing role for community groups like the IRG.

9. TRANSPORT

IRUG Update

IRUG were currently trying to obtain a copy of the summer timetable ASAP.

Transport Sub-Committee Update

Members were currently working on a joint publicity campaign (including questionnaire) with First Buses. They also continued to lobby Stagecoach for the reinstatement of the X38 via the town centre. Future editions of Signpost Magazine were to include timetable information for both bus and train services, courtesy of Karen Rayfield.

10. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

None reported.

11. ADDITIONAL URGENT ITEMS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIRMAN

None reported.

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 17 April, 5.30pm, Ivybridge Town Hall.


Signed: ………………………………… Date: ……………………………
                         Chairman